Safety evaluation of immune-cell therapy for malignant tumor in the Cancer Immune-cell Therapy Evaluation Group (CITEG).

Background Aims: With the aim of strengthening the scientific evidence of immune-cell therapy for cancer and further examining its safety, in October 2015, our hospital jointly established the Cancer Immune-Cell Therapy Evaluation Group (CITEG) with 39 medical facilities nationwide.

Methods: Medical information, such as patients' background characteristics, clinical efficacy and therapeutic cell types obtained from each facility, has been accumulated, analyzed and evaluated by CITEG. In this prospective study, we analyzed the adverse events associated with immune-cell therapy until the end of September 2022, and we presented our interim safety evaluation.

Laparoscopic surgery in the management of hypersplenism and esophagogastric varices: our initial experiences.

Background: Owing to recent advances in laparoscopic surgery, devascularization of the upper stomach with splenectomy (Spx) or Hassab's procedure (Has) as well as Spx for patients with portal hypertension have been attempted laparoscopically in some facilities, the results of which have been reported. This article describes the authors' surgical techniques and their results.

Methods: Between August 1999 and August 2010, the authors treated 110 cases of portal hypertension with Spx or Has.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) mRNA expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma tissue and non-cancerous liver tissue.

Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) regulates lipid metabolism in the liver. It is unclear, however, how this receptor changes in liver cancer tissue. On the other hand, mouse carcinogenicity studies showed that PPARα is necessary for the development of liver cancer induced by peroxisome proliferators, and the relationship between PPARα and the development of liver cancer have been the focus of considerable attention.

Risk factors for surgical site infection after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: Clarification of risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI) after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is important for improvement of surgical outcome.

Methodology: The incidences of SSI under various states were evaluated in 171 patients who underwent hepatectomy for HCC. Univariate and logistic regression analysis were performed to identify risk factors for SSI.

[A case of lumbar metastases from rectal cancer successfully treated by UFT plus oral leucovorin (LV) therapy].

A 63-year-old man had undergone a low anterior resection for rectal cancer with multiple liver metastases. Oral UFT (450 mg/day) administration alone was started after the operation. After 6 months post operatively, the patient was diagnosed as anastomosis recurrence because of ileus by abdominal X-ray.

Regulation of branched-chain amino acid metabolism and pharmacological effects of branched-chain amino acids.

Significant evidence of the pharmacological and physiological effects of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) has accumulated, attracting the interest of not only clinicians but also basic medical researchers. We summarize here the characteristic features of BCAA catabolism, focusing on the initial two enzymes in the pathway, branched-chain aminotransferase and branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex. In addition, we describe a unique characteristic of the valine catabolic pathway.

[A case of giant hepatocellular carcinoma treatable with radio frequent ablation therapy after effective UFT administration].

A 71-year-old man was diagnosed with giant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatitis C cirrhosis at a nearby hospital. Image diagnosis showed no other metastasis, but the tumor was very huge with daughter nodules in the bilateral lobe of the liver. He was thus treated by oral administration of UFT (300 mg/day).